Milestones

Ty is WALKING! Last night Ty walked for the first time. It was like he didn't even know he was doing it. He let go of Jake's hand and walked to me. He took 4 steps and then paused and then reached for me. He never lost his balance at all. We got him to do it 3-4 more times, but of course, once we got out the cameras it was all over. He was too tired. So fun.

Tyger, rappidly approaching 1!

I forgot to post on Saturday and give updates on Ty. He turned 11 months old. I can't believe how much he is growing and growing. A lady on Sunday said to me "I don' t know what you are feeding this kid, but it is WORKING!" He really has chunked up in the last month. He is wearing is 12-18 month clothes now. I think that part of the reason he looks so chunky is because-poor kid-he got his mom's height. He is only 15% for height. Plus he has a really round head and Swensen cheeks, but still, he is a porker.

He climbs stairs and anything else he can. Boy, that kid is ALL arm strength!! He trys to climb on ANYTHING!

His new favorite trick is standing up in the middle of the room all by himself. Which once accomplished he looks around for recognition with a huge smile on his face. He also now bends over to pick up toys. He wants to do EVERYTHING standing up. Even drink his bottle standing up. He was doing it on Saturday, but by the time I got the camera out he was done. He is getting really close to walking. Today he was standing up in my bathroom, and he took one step forward and stayed steady. So adorable. He happened to be naked as a jay bird when he did it too. It somehow made it so much cuter. Fat naked babies are adorable.

He loves to wrestle with Luke and play-you guessed it- Star Wars toys. Mostly I am sure it is because he just wants to do whatever Luke is doing, and that is usually playing Star Wars.

He says Mama, Dada, and is starting to wave bye-bye and hi.

I can already sense that he is going to be a little spit-fire. He is very determined, dramatic, and a little CRAZY! ha ha. He is such a joy. I keep thinking about last summer at this time. I was so anxious to be done being pregnant, and now I can't see where the year has gone. He feels like he has always been a part of us.

My New Nephew

This is my new nephew Larry Kaleoho'omaunui Timoteo Heong Ake -- "Kaleo". He was born on July 10th in Salt Lake City. He is the son of my sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Callie and Elvin Ake. I just can't get over what a beautiful baby he is, so I had to post a picture of him here. I can't wait to get to hold him for the first time...whenever that may be.

I am coveting...for Luke of course!

Jake sent me a link to the potterybarnkids.com and showed me the new fall line which includes these vintage Star Wars sheets, and everything else you can imagine to go with them. OHHHHHHHHHH how I want to get these for Luke's room. We have been thinking that it is getting close to time to put him in a big boy bed. The toddler bed is getting a little too small. So I am hoping as we make the change I can talk Jake into scraping the MANY pennies together to get these for Luke's room. We do except donations however, JUST KIDDING! Don't you think they are awesome?

Binkie Buddies

This is a picture I have been meaning to post for a while now. I took this last month. Luke was being silly and giving them both binkies and crawling around on the floor together. I love seeing them learn to interact with each other. Every day they get better and better at playing together. They will often go in Luke's room to be together to play Star Wars toys, or jump in the ball pit, or play legos. Obviously, Ty can only knock down, destroy or suck on things. But for the most part Luke seems to enjoy having a new playmate. Their favorite game to play is peek-a-boo. They just squeal in delight. It is so adorable. Ty idolizes Luke. He watches everything Luke does. Last night Luke was trying to get Ty to walk to him. (Ty is REALLY close). Luke kept calling him in this litttle sing-song voice, "Come here Tyger". So sweet. I know that the next six months will bring a lot of changes for them this way. I can't wait to see their interactions continue to unfold.

Rough, Tumble... ER

I have been meaning to update...some of you already know this, but Ty had his first ER visit last Friday. He was playing with Luke's Star Wars toys and I think, (I had just stepped out of the room-a fact which haunts me),he pulled himself up and lost his balance. He fell into the corner of the Star Wars Arena and popped open the skin right between his eyes. He was so tough. It was REALLY deep. He barely cried. He even started falling asleep while they did the dermabond glue (the equivalent of liquid stiches). Then they got a little in his eye and it started to seal shut. They got the glue out; that was the only time he fussed through the whole process. He is doing just fine and seems to be healing nicely. He will have a little scar there...why is it always the face???

One of the great blessings in all of this is our FANTASTIC neighbors. We feel so blessed to have bought this house. Our neighbors have been such a great source of comfort to us. They are our friends and in a lot of ways our family away from family. Luke LOVES them. And they really love and dote on our boys. I ran over to the house the moment this all happened. They helped me get packed up to go to the hospital and give Ty some medicine. Then they kept Luke for us, helped him go potty, gave him treats, played Barbies with him and let him watch his favorite movies. They are so sweet to us all. I feel so grateful to my Heavenly Father for all of his tender mercies.

Summer Fun

We were playing in our kiddie pool the other day and I took these pictures. So fun! Ty loved it too. Notice the purple mouth-we were still giving him his medicine (which insidently we had to start again today-it came back:( ).

The Joker

Ty has thrush. Poor kid. We have no idea how he got it, but he did. For those of you who don't know what that is, it is a yeast infection of the mouth. Today is the last day of his lovely violet medicine. As most of you know he spits up quite a bit. So image my fun when the spit up is violet and stains something fierce. Rrrrrrrrr. After I gave him his last dose of medicine Jake and I were laughing because Jake said he looked like the Joker. He did. It was too funny.

10 and 5

Alright, I have been putting this off. I have been tagged twice with this one. Here it goes.
10 Years Ago- It was the summer before my junior year of high school. I had just turned 16. I was beginning the awkward dating years-and boy, was I awkward! I spent part of the summer just outside of Bryce Canyon working at my friend's Uncle's hotel (still with me?) in Tropic, Utah.
5 Years Ago- I was married for over a year. We were just getting ready to go to Hawaii with my family. We had just bought our first home, a condo in Salt Lake City. Ah, memories.
5 Months Ago-February...hmm...I was enjoying my sweet 5 month old and 2 1/2 year old. I was celebrating my 6 year anniversary and Valentines Day. I LOVE February. I am such a hopeless romantic.
My List of 5 Things to do Tomorrow-
1. Clean.
2.Get ready for my Close To My Heart home gathering.
3. Play with my kids.
4. Make Thank You cards.
5. Ironing
5 Bad Habits-
1. Nagging my husband.
2. Picking at my fingernails/cuticles.
3.I don't know? I am sure there are more, but my mind is blank. I am sure Jake could help me figure some out, (privately). I hate this question...it's like that interview question "what are your weaknesses?" Like anyone wants to be honest about that. Come ON!
5 Places I've lived
1. Atlanta, GA
2. Shawnee, KS
3. Sandy, UT
4. West Jordan, UT
5. Decatur, IL
5 Things People Don't Know About Me
1. My life is an open book, but here it goes...I get embarrassed really easily! Seriously, and I feel other people's embarrassment too. I find it painful to watch others sometimes. You know, when you can't bare to even look because you are so embarrassed for them?
2. I was almost named Hilary. Wow! So glad I dodged that bullet.
3. I did drama and singing lessons in high school. I know, it doesn't really go along with the embarrassed thing. I gave it up my Junior year.
4. My first job was in a day care center.
5. I have a 28in. inseam. Scary huh? Try finding pants that fit. Yikes, I HATE pants shopping. I also hate bra shopping. I just get frustrated and leave with nothing.

I tag anyone who wants to participate.

"It's Your Birthday Shout Hooray!"

Heidi, Happy birthday!! Lots of love to you today and always.

For those of you who may not know my sister Heidi, let me enlighten you. She is one of the most generous and giving people I know. She is always found doing for others anything that she can. She is creative, silly, fun and compassionate. She is fun Aunt and to my boys and all her nieces and nephews. I love her very much and I am proud to call her my sister and my friend.

Thanks, Heidi, for being who you are! I am so proud of you and the things that you are accomplishing in your life. I love you!